Method and apparatus for removing grease from animal bones

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises a method of and apparatus for removing grease from animal bones. Pipes containing nozzles are positioned in a slowly revolving drum, and pressurized boiling water is jetted from the nozzles against the animal bones which are agitated by the rotating drum.

United States Patent 11 1 Nonaka et al.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING GREASE FROM ANIMAL BONES Inventors:Yoshihiro Nonaka; Jom Nakanishi,

both of Osaka, Japan Nitta Gelatin Kabushiki Kaisha, Yao City, OsakaPrefi, Japan Filed: Aug. 4, 1972 Appl. No.2 277,865

Assignee:

US. (:1 134/s ,134/25 134/33, 134/145, 134/153, 23/280, 15/90, 69/30,260/412 1m. (:1. 13080 3/06, c0911 1/02, c1 1b 1/14 Field 61 Search134/5, 24, 23, 33,120, 134/153, 157, 175, 25, 145; 23/280; 260/4126,412; 69/30; 15/90; 68/58; 106/125 14 1 Oct. 15, 1974 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 660,655 10/1900 Von Podewils 260/41262,652,588 6/1950 Harris l34/l53 3,262,218 .7/1966 Cymbalisty 68/58 XPrimary Examiner-Joseph Scovronek Assistant Examiner-Barry l. HollanderAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Donald D. Jeffery [5 7 1 ABSTRACT The inventioncomprises a method of and apparatus for removing grease from animalbones. Pipes containing nozzles are positioned in a slowly revolvingdrum, and pressurized boiling water is jetted from the nozzles againstthe animal bones which are agitated by the rotating drum.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING GREASEFROM ANIMAL BONES The present invention relates as indicated to a methodof and apparatus for removing grease from animal bones such as those ofcattle, with the bones to be FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view throughthe apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus, taken on linex y of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing aconventional form of apparatus, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2, with the apparatus being partially broken away.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, wherein like parts havebeen indicated by like reference numerals, the apparatus comprising thepresent invention includes a revolving drum 1 in which are securelymounted pipes 2 which receive pressurized boiling water as will behereinafter described. A plurality of circumferentially spaced rake-upblades 3 are secured to the inner periphery of the drum and extendradially inwardly thereof. Similarly blades 4 which are positionedbetween the blades 3 are provided for fixedly mounting the outer ends ofthe pipes, by means of mounting or connecting pins 10.

A revolving hollow shaft 6 is mounted centrally in the drum, and theradially inner ends of the pipes 2 are rigidly connected to the shaft inflow communication with the interior of the shaft whereby thepressurized boiling water can be delivered to the nozzles 8 of the pipes2.

Driving rollers 9 are provided for revolving the drum, and bearings 11and 12 are mounted around shaft 6 in detachable end covers 13 and 14 atboth ends of the drum. The end covers 13 and 14 can be removed fordelivering the animal bones to or removing the bones from the drum. Arevolving coupling 15 is provided for the shaft 6, and an end bearing 16for the shaft is disposed at the opposite end of the drum. A feed pipe17 is provided for delivering the pressurized boiling water to the drum,and the entire assembly is supported by supporting frame members 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drum 1 revolves in the direction of theindicating arrow, with the drum revolving about the axis of shaft 6. Theanimal bones are indicated at 5 and are located due to gravity in thelower quadrant of the drum, as clearly indicated in FIG. 1. The bonesare raked up by the blades 3 and 4 as the drum revolves. with the bonesbeing carried in the direction of the drum until falling by gravitytoward the bottom thereof, with the bones thereby being continuallyagitated by the blades 3 and 4. The highly pressurized boiling waterfrom the nozzles 8 impinges against the accumulated bones in thedirection opposite to that of rotation of the drum, with the pipes 2sequentially passing through the accumulated bones as shown, forexample. by the pipe illustrated in the lower left corner of the drum inHO. 1. As such pipe continues to rotate with the drum the pressurizedboiling water continues to impinge against the animal bones until thepipe rotates sothat the nozzle spray pattern is not directed against thebones, the condition existing with the right most pipes 2 shown inFIG. 1. After a predetermined length of time of continuous operation ofthe drum, the grease contained in the bones will be essentiallycompletely removed, and the boiling water during the continuousoperationis discharged continuously from the small holes h formed in the drumwall.

Referring to FIG. 3, which illustrates conventional apparatus, the drum1 is rotated in the same direction as in the FIG. 1 form, with theblades 3 raking up the bones and carrying them in the direction the drumrotates until the bones descend by gravity, with the bones accumulatingin the lower portion of the drum as indicated in FIG. 3. The hollowshaft 19 and the boiling water pipe 20 connected thereto are stationarywhereby the nozzles formed in the pipe 20 continually direct thepressurized boiling water against the accumulated bones. A drawback ofthis arrangement, however, is that the bones continually raked up by theblades 3 fall down incessantly against the pipe 20 thereby subjectingthe pipe to substantialshocks and possible damage, particularly when thedrum is relatively large in diameter and capacity.

Pipe damage is minimized in accordance with the invention, referring toFIGS. 1, 2 and 4 since the pipes are fixed to the blades 4 and thereforerotate with the shaft 6 and the drum. Therefore the pipes receivecontact directly with the bones only intermittently, and the rigidconnection of the pipes to the drum and shaft increases the resistivestrength of the pipes substantially and alleviates damage thereto.Although greater quantities of water are consumed where the pipes arepermanently connected to the shaft and drum, the efficiency of thegrease removing operation is substantially increased because each pipepasses sequentially through the bones so that the pressure and heat ofthe boiling water are delivered directly to the bones.

The experimental performance of the method and apparatus according tothe present invention is as follows:

Dia. of revolving drum (1):

Under the above mentioned conditions, it was found that a presumedcontent of grease of i5 20 percent of animal bones could be reduced toless than 1.5 percent. The present invention is characterized andfeatured in having a high functional efficiency of removing grease fromanimal bones by means of pressurized boiling water of high temperaturejetted against the animal bones which are stirred up incessantly.

We claim:

I. A method for removing grease from animal bones comprising the stepsof placing said bones in a drum, slowly revolving said drum and rakingup said bones from the bottom of said drum for gravity descent in saiddrum thereby constantly agitating said bones, and subjecting said bonesto jets of boiling water at high pressure by pipes inside and attachedto and revolving with the drum, said boiling water impinging against thebones in a direction opposite to that of rotation of the drum, saidbones being subjected directly to said jetted boiling water when saidpipes pass through said bones in the bottom of said drum.

2. Apparatus for removing grease from animal bones t comprising a drumhaving a plurality of openings therethrough, a plurality of axiallyextending blades attached in circumferentially spaced relation on theinner periphery of said drum and extending radially inwardly from saiddrum, said blades raking up said bones upon rotation of said drum, ahollow shaft extending centrally through said drum and operativelyconnected thereto for revolving said drum, means for revolving saidshaft and thus said drum, means for delivering pressurized boiling waterto said hollow shaft, a plurality of hollow pipes at a plurality ofaxially spaced locations in said drum and mounted on and extendingradially from said shaft and communicating with the interior of saidshaft and thus said pressurized boiling water, said pipes being securedat their outer ends to certain of said blades, said pipes being providedwith nozzles which are located in said pipes so that the boiling wateris jetted out of said nozzles in a direction opposite to the directionof rotation of said drum as said drum revolves, said pipes passingsequentially through said bones in the bottom of said drum whereby saidbones are subjected to the direct action of said pressur-

1. A METHOD FOR REMOVING GREASE FROM ANIMAL BONES COMPRISING THE STEPSOF PLACING SAID BONES IN A DRUM, SLOWLY REVOLVING SAID DRUM AND RAKINGUP SAID BONES FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID DRUM FOR RAVITY DESCENT IN SAIDDRUM THEREBY CONSTANTLY AGITATING SAID BONES, AND SUBJECTING SAID BONESTO JETS OF BOILING WATER AT HIGH PRESSURE BY PIPES INSIDE AND ATTACHEDTO AND REVOLVING WITH THE DRUM, SAID BOILING WATER IMPINGING AGAINST THEBONES IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THAT OF ROTATION OF THE DRUM, SAIDBONES BEING SUBJECTED DIRECTLY TO SAID JETTED BOILING WATER, WHEN SAIDPIPES PASS THROUGH SAID BONES IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID DRUM.
 2. Apparatusfor Removing grease from animal bones comprising a drum having aplurality of openings therethrough, a plurality of axially extendingblades attached in circumferentially spaced relation on the innerperiphery of said drum and extending radially inwardly from said drum,said blades raking up said bones upon rotation of said drum, a hollowshaft extending centrally through said drum and operatively connectedthereto for revolving said drum, means for revolving said shaft and thussaid drum, means for delivering pressurized boiling water to said hollowshaft, a plurality of hollow pipes at a plurality of axially spacedlocations in said drum and mounted on and extending radially from saidshaft and communicating with the interior of said shaft and thus saidpressurized boiling water, said pipes being secured at their outer endsto certain of said blades, said pipes being provided with nozzles whichare located in said pipes so that the boiling water is jetted out ofsaid nozzles in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation ofsaid drum as said drum revolves, said pipes passing sequentially throughsaid bones in the bottom of said drum whereby said bones are subjectedto the direct action of said pressurized boiling water.